Latin School of Chicago

It struck Mehr Singh '13 during a Latin- "I wanted to do something that could expose children in other countries to doing art and could also involve students at Latin who love art." 42 sponsored service trip to China after freshman year. As she was having conversations with schoolchildren in the villages she visited, they talked about math and science and English. No mention was made of art, ever. She also never saw crayons, paints, colored pencils or any of the other tools that are part of most children's daily lives in the United States. "It was hard for me to understand that art wasn't a part of their lives," Mehr said. "Art has always been my outlet, where I can get away from the stress of everything else and express myself. I couldn't imagine that they didn't have that opportunity." When she returned from China, Mehr couldn't stop thinking about her experience. "I wanted to do something that could expose children in other countries to doing art and could also involve students at Latin who love art," she said. Through many conversations with her art teachers, parents and friends, Mehr developed the idea for ACE (Art Creating Empowerment), a nonprofit 501(c)3 foundation through which high school students donate their artwork to raise money for art education and supplies in developing countries. To date, the organization has raised more than $15,000 for programs in South Africa and India. About 30 students from Latin and schools in California and Florida have donated art to ACE; in September, the foundation held its first gallery fundraiser. Mehr is currently working with high school students around the country to open ACE chapters at their schools. "At first, I thought my idea was impossible. How could I do this? But my teachers always L AT I N M AGAZINE encouraged me to just take it a step at a time. There was never a 'no.' It was always, 'Let's think about how we can make this happen.'" With the help of her parents, Mehr talked to lawyers, applied for nonprofit status, wrote grant proposals and researched where and how to donate supplies and funds. She began working with the American India Foundation, a reputable service organization that her family has been involved in for years. Through Latin faculty member Billy Lombardo, she was introduced to, and later teamed up with, ArtWorks for Youth, a program run by Lombardo's brother, John, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that brings afterschool art programs to children in underserved schools. During sophomore year, she traveled to South Africa for a visual arts and creative writing Project Week trip in which students joined ArtWorks in classrooms. "Working with ArtWorks for Youth was amazing. We loved sharing our passion for art with the kids, and they were so excited by everything we were doing." She also has gone on to lead workshops at struggling schools in India with the goal of introducing students to different techniques and encouraging them to use their imaginations. Ultimately, she hopes that ACE will be able to fund full-time art teachers at these schools in addition to providing art supplies. "Art has been such an important part of my life. It has helped me to express myself creatively, learn in a different way and just relax. I think that is something all kids deserve, no matter where they live or what their circumstances are." n

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